A swift military response has prevented what security analysts say could have become another major school abduction crisis in Nigeria’s North-East after troops rescued 10 students kidnapped during a terrorist attack on a secondary school in Borno State.
The students were abducted when suspected insurgents stormed Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area while candidates were sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.
The incident briefly reignited fears of a return to the era of mass school kidnappings that once dominated Nigeria’s security landscape. However, military authorities said troops of Operation Hadin Kai, backed by air assets, launched an immediate pursuit operation that disrupted the terrorists’ plans and secured the release of most of the victims.
In a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the Theatre Command activated both combat aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms immediately after reports of the attack were received.
According to him, the aerial support enabled troops to track the movement of the fleeing terrorists and coordinate a targeted rescue mission.
The operation led to a fierce gun battle around Daggu, where troops intercepted the attackers and forced them into retreat.
Military sources disclosed that the insurgents suffered casualties during the encounter, while seven motorcycles used in the operation were recovered by security forces.
The rescue, however, came at a painful cost.
A soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) lost their lives during the confrontation, highlighting the continuing risks faced by frontline personnel battling insurgency across the region.
Despite the losses, military authorities described the mission as a significant operational success, noting that the rescued students were recovered unharmed and are receiving medical attention and psychosocial support.
The military added that efforts remain underway to locate and rescue the remaining abducted student while pursuing the perpetrators.
The attack has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of schools in conflict-affected communities and the challenge of safeguarding education in parts of the North-East.
For many residents, however, the rapid rescue operation marks a sharp contrast to previous incidents in which abducted students remained in captivity for months, sometimes years.
The latest development is also being viewed as a test of the military’s evolving counter-insurgency strategy, which increasingly relies on rapid intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and coordinated response capabilities to deny insurgents the propaganda and financial gains often associated with mass abductions.
As students across the country continue their examinations, security agencies are expected to intensify protective measures around schools, particularly in areas facing persistent terrorist threats.